Signal device.



No. 705,549. I

Pafented July 29, I902. n. s. BALLIET.

SIGNAL DEVICE.

(Application filed Apr. 10, 1902.;

(lo Model.)

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I w k UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT s. BALLIET, OF BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

SIGNAL DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters PatentNo. 705,5 49, dated July 29, 1902.

Application filed April 10, 1902.

Signal Devices, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of the same, in which the single figure represents the lower part of the iron post of an automatic electric semaphore system and certain instruments placed therein, together constituting an embodiment of myinvention,though it is by no means limited to the instrumentalities exhibited.

As stated, the view is of a part of a hollow iron post made in the form of a box or case (3, with a door D shown open and partly broken away.

B B are batteries located within the case.

B is a relay, shown as supported on a table T.

F is afan-motor provided with fans f and 1, so placed as toforce a current of air directly against the relay R, and w to w w 10 10 w are the Wire connections, which are only indicated, as their proper arrangement will be readily understood by any one skilled in the art of electric signaling.

In the operation of signaling systems, and particularly in operating automatic electric semaphores, many interruptions arise by rea son of the fact that in cold weather relays, circuit-breakers, chains, gear-wheels, movable arms, levers, and other mechanisms are parts and causingsluggish and imperfect action and sometimes freezing the parts solidly together, so as to prevent their being oper- $erial No. 102,161. (No model.)

ated at all, and thereby causing great detention of traffic and liability to accident. I have discovered that if a current of air be forced against the parts liable to become thus clogged with frost or ice it will prevent the collection of moisture thereon, or if it has collected will result in its being rapidly removed, just as wind prevents the precipitation of dew upongrass, and to provide for thus protecting'th'e apparatus I have devised a combination of devices in which a fan-motor is located Within the inclosure with the instruments, preferably so set as to direct the current of air it causes in action directly upon the most delicate parts of the signaling mechanism, though I find that its exact location is not imperative, since its action will cause a movement of the air throughout the inclosure and accomplish the desired result even though the current be not thrown by the fan directly upon the mechanism to be protected. a g

I prefer to employ an electric motor-fan which may be run'by a battery, as that is easiest of operationgbutahy other means of producing a current-of air may be utilized with satisfactory results. I also prefer sometimes to use amotor with a fan at each end of the axle, as that renders it certain that the mechanism of the fan-motor will be protected equally with the other mechanism.

The conditions under which frost and ice collect in the inclosure usually only'exist from sunrise to sunset, so that it is not necessary to keep the fan in perpetual motion, and provision may be readily made to conform to this situation by arranging to out out the fanmotor at times when its operation is not necessary and to out it in when it isdesired, thus saving battery energy and" reducing the cost of operation. It may be run by currents of high or low potential, as may be most convenient; but I prefer to operate it on a circuit separate from that of the signaling de' vice.

The invention, as Willreadilybe understood, consists in the combination, with the instrument or instruments of a signaling system, of means for producing a current of air and causing it to circulate aboutsaid instrument or instruments, and the special means or mechanism employed is not of; particular moment, though, as already remarked, I prefer to use an electric fan-motor; w

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is'- 1. ,The combination'with a signal-box, con taining an instrument of a signaling system, of means for producing a current of air, located and arranged, substantially as described, whereby said current of air will be caused to circulate over and about said instrument. v v v 2. The combination with a signal-box, containing an instrument of a signaling system, of means for producing a current of air, lo-

cated within the signal-box,and arranged substantially as described, whereby said current of air will be caused to circulate over and about said instrument. v

3. The combination with a signal-box, containing an instrument of a signaling system, of a-fan and means for operating it located and arranged substantially as described, whereby said current of air will be caused to circulate over and about said instrument.

4. The combination with a signal-box, containing an instrument of a'signaling system, of a fan and means for operating it, located within the signal-box, and arranged substantially as described, whereby said current of air will be caused to circulate over and about said instrument.

5. The combination with a signal-box, containingan instrument of a signalingsystem, of an electric motor-fan locatedand arranged as described, together with means for operating it located and arranged substantially as described, whereby said current of air will be caused to circulate over and about said instrument. g

6. The combination with a signal-box, containing an instrument of a signaling system,

of an electric motor-fan located in the signalbox with said instrument, and arranged as described, together with means for operating it located and arranged substantially as described, whereby said current of air will be over and about said in- Witnesses:

J. P. GERsBAoH, C. G. LARosH. v

HERBERT S. BA'LLIET. 

